The Best Rookie Seasons in NBA History - 10 of the Greatest (2024)

Wes Unseld’s inaugural season stands as a monumental achievement in NBA history. He is one of only two players to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season. During his debut, Unseld averaged 13.8 points, 18.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. His performance propelled the Washington Bullets from sixth to first place in the Eastern Conference.

Remarkably, Unseld achieved this while averaging half the points and the same number of rebounds as Elvin Hayes, who finished as the runner-up in Rookie of the Year voting. Despite Hayes' superior statistics, Unseld’s leadership and impact on team performance secured his place in history.

Magic Johnson’s rookie season was nothing short of revolutionary. The 6'9" point guard brought a new level of flair to the “Showtime Lakers,” averaging 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. Johnson’s crowning achievement came in the NBA Finals, where he famously stepped in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at center in Game 6.Magic’s performance—42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists—secured the championship for the Lakers and earned him Finals MVP honors, the only rookie to achieve this feat.

Whilst he missed out on Rookie of the Year to Larry Bird, Johnson's accolades and legacy are still the stuff of legneds and have marked him out as one of the true greats of the game, with his legacy one that still inspires the rookies of today.

Larry Bird’s rookie season is the stuff of legends. Leading the Boston Celtics to a league-best 61-21 record, Bird captured the Rookie of the Year award over his college rival, Magic Johnson. Bird’s debut stats—21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game—were impressive, setting the stage for an illustrious career that Celtics fans still celebrate with fondness to this day.

Although the Celtics fell to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Conference Finals of his rookie season, Bird’s impact was undeniable, marking the beginning of an era of Celtics dominance and laying the foundations for an era in which his Celtics team and a Lakers team spearheaded by Johnson would continue to battle for supremacy.

Elvin Hayes was the cornerstone for the San Diego Rockets during a transformative season for him and his team. Selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1968 draft, Hayes delivered an astonishing rookie campaign, averaging 28.4 points, 17.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. His efforts led to a 22-game improvement over the previous season, culminating in the franchise's first playoff appearance.

Hayes’ scoring average ranks fifth all-time for a rookie, and he remains the last first-year player to lead the league in points per game. Despite not winning Rookie of the Year, his superior individual numbers and the Rockets' dramatic turnaround highlight his significant impact.

Elgin Baylor’s rookie season was a prelude to a bona fide Hall of Fame career. Averaging 24.9 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, Baylor’s performance revitalized the Minneapolis Lakers. Leading the team to the NBA Finals, Baylor’s efforts established the Lakers as perennial contenders with statistics and performances which marked him out as an iconic figure for the franchise.

His rookie season was the start of a remarkable career that saw the Lakers relocate to Los Angeles and continue their storied rivalry with the Boston Celtics. Indeed, his rookie year was just the start of a career that went from strength-to-strength.

Michael Jordan’s rookie season hinted at his future greatness. Selected as the third overall pick in the 1984 draft, Jordan immediately made an impact, averaging 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. His electrifying play earned him Rookie of the Year honors and a Sports Illustrated cover just two months into the season, which was just the start for this iconic figure.

Jordan’s arrival marked the beginning of a new era for a Chicago Bulls team that achieved legendary status within the game, with Jordan at the heart of this, and left the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers pondering their draft decisions in the years that followed.

Walt Bellamy’s rookie season ranks amongst the very best due to his extraordinary numbers he was able to post during his first seaason. Averaging 31.6 points, 19.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, Bellamy’s scoring prowess and efficiency were unmatched. His 973 total field goals remain the most by any rookie, and his 51.9% shooting percentage led the league by some distance.

Bellamy’s All-Star Game performance, with 23 points and 17 rebounds, showcased his dominance on a national stage, setting the tone for a glittering professional career that built upon the foundations he laid for him and his team during his debut year.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, delivered one of the most impactful rookie seasons in NBA history. Averaging 28.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, Abdul-Jabbar transformed the Milwaukee Bucks into title contenders and revitalised the franchise in a profound way. His presence alone added 29 wins to the Bucks' record, setting the stage for future success.

The following season, with the addition of Oscar Robertson to the roster, Abdul-Jabbar led the Bucks to their first NBA championship, picking up the MVP title in the process, and began his journey toward becoming one of the the true greats of the game.

Oscar Robertson’s rookie season was a triple-double tour de force. Averaging 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 9.7 assists per game, Robertson’s versatility and all-around excellence were evident from the start. His contributions led to a 14-game improvement for the Cincinnati Royals in his debut year, and earned him a selection for that year's All-Star Game, for which he received MVP honors.

Robertson’s rookie season foreshadowed his career-long prowess in recording triple-doubles, having only recently been surpassed by league veteran, Russell Westbrook, and helped to solidify his place as one of the NBA’s all-time greats due to his noteworthy - and historic - exploits.

Wilt Chamberlain’s rookie season remains the gold standard in NBA history and set the tone for the accolades he we achieve throughout his legendary career. Averaging an astounding 37.6 points, 27.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, Chamberlain’s dominance was unparalleled. He set rookie records for both points and rebounds, earning both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors.

Chamberlain’s entry into the NBA, following a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters, was a harbinger of his future as one of the game’s most prolific and influential players, with a legacy marked by statistical feats that remain unmatched even to this day.